The purpose of this study is to determine if study drug (Pioglitazone) treatment will improve pre-diabetes (insulin resistance) or ealy diabetes and improve clinical symptoms (pain) or laboratory evidence of chronic pancreatitis.

The goal of the investigators is to gather information from this study to help gain understanding of a potential therapy for chronic pancreatitis.

Participants will be randomized to either pioglitazone or placebo. The dosing is 30 mg taken once daily for 48 weeks.

Other Name: Actos

Placebo Comparator: sugar pill (placebo)

1 sugar pill (placebo) taken once daily for 48 weeks.

Drug: Pioglitazone

Participants will be randomized to either pioglitazone or placebo. The dosing is 30 mg taken once daily for 48 weeks.

Other Name: Actos

Detailed Description:

The pancreas is a digestive organ that secretes insulin (and other hormones) into the blood for regulating blood sugar (glucose) and digestive enzymes into the intestine for digesting and absorbing nutrients consumed in meals. Chronic pancreatitis is a progressive clinical disease of the pancreas, associated with swelling (inflammation), scarring (fibrosis) and loss of normal functioning tissue. Patients develop diabetes mellitus (elevated blood sugar), malabsorption of nutrients, weight loss and pain. Presently chronic pancreatitis is considered an irreversible condition because the mechanisms responsible for chronic pancreatitis are poorly understood and no therapy is proven. However, recent studies provide important clues that oral medications (Thiazolidinediones) used to treat diabetes mellitus might improve or reverse features of chronic pancreatitis, including elevated sugar or diabetes, reduced secretion of digestive enzymes, and pancreatic swelling and scarring.

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To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below.
For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00782795